Going Back to School with a New Car; What are the Popular Choices?

Even though many students may dream of their parents purchasing them a high-powered sports car or a nice entry level luxury car these aren’t the cars most students are going back to school with. Parents generally understand the relationship between a car and the cost to keep it on the road and running rather than parked in a lot only to be admired because just affording the gas is out of reach for the student at school. Instead this list of great cars for the back to school crowd offers a great list of cars that are practical, affordable and efficient to help students stretch their already stretched dollars at school.

2014 Subaru Impreza

The Impreza starts off the list in an impressive fashion. As a Subaru it is outfitted with the signature all-wheel drive that makes this a great car for students who will face the challenges of driving in snowy or icy weather conditions. The Impreza is a great choice with a fuel efficiency of 27 city/36 hwy mpg provided by the 148 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powering this great choice.

2015 Volkswagen Golf

Showing up as the only European car on the list the dynamic driving style and versatility of owning a great hatchback makes the Golf a fantastic choice for any student to own. The hatchback will come in very handy on laundry days as well as moving days for roommates and neighbors. The Golf comes in powered by a 170 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and offers a fantastic fuel efficiency of 26 city/37 hwy mpg for any student to enjoy and parents to know they have chosen a great car.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

As another loner on the list the Outlander Sport is the only SUV on the list. Giving this vehicle to a student will make them the popular choice to ride with for weekend study and party sessions as well as offering the peace of mind from the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty offered by Mitsubishi. The Outlander offers plenty of space to go camping or for moving in and out of dorm rooms and comes powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that offers 148 horsepower and give a very nice fuel efficiency of 24 city/31 hwy mpg, making it a great choice from any angle.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic

The Sonic is very simply a fun car to drive. This car is offered as either a hatchback or a sedan is surprisingly spacious on the inside making it fun to cruise around the campus in as well as offering the iPhone integration via Siri Eyes Free technology. The Sonic is also the most affordable car on this list making it the choice for parents to keep some of their hard earned money in the bank. The Sonic comes powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine giving up 138 horsepower and offering a fuel efficiency of 26 city/35 hwy mpg making the cruising even more affordable.

2014 Honda Civic

A very sporty choice that also gives plenty of fuel efficiency comes in the form of the Honda Civic. The Civic is also a very versatile car offering sporty, eco-friendly, fuel-efficient as well as performance-driven models for parents to choose from for their students. As one of the most reliable cars in history parents can be assured they are making a great choice in the Civic. Powered by a 143 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that allows for a fuel efficiency of 30 city/39 hwy mpg the Civic is a great car for any student to enjoy.

2014 Toyota Prius C

The Prius C is the perfect car for students who are going to live off campus with outstanding fuel efficiency. The Prius is also small and agile enough to be easy to park anywhere making it an easy car to enjoy and use with the versatility of a hatchback. The Prius has made a name for itself for reliability which adds to the peace of mind parents will have when buying this car. The Prius C is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine that offers 73 horsepower and gives a massive fuel efficiency of 53 city/46 hwy mpg.

2014 Mazda 3

As a brand new model for 2014 students can enjoy the exploration of a new car with great features and a ton of tech-savvy equipment to utilize. The Mazda 3 is also a very sporty sedan or a great looking hatchback with plenty of comfort for anyone to enjoy and makes a great ride to cruise around the campus. Powered by a 2.0-liter SKYACTIV four-cylinder engine that offers 155 horsepower and comes in with a fuel efficiency of 30 city/41 hwy mpg the Mazda 3 makes a great choice for students and parents alike.

2014 Nissan Versa

The Versa is a really awesome choice for students. With the most rear legroom of any of the subcompact hatchbacks on this list the Versa allows everyone to enjoy the drive. Add the Around View Monitor feature and the Versa becomes a car that is easy to park anywhere on or off campus. Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder 109 horsepower engine the Versa offers a fuel efficiency of 27 city/36 hwy mpg keeping money from having to go into the gas tank on a regular basis.

2014 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is an excellent hatchback that is almost an SUV. With comfortable seating for up to five the crew can take a drive to the store for some dorm furniture or head off campus for a weekend getaway to leave the studies behind for a couple days. The Soul has a personality all its own and offers a nicely fuel efficient ride to enjoy. The Soul is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that achieves as much as 130 horsepower and comes in with a fuel efficiency of 24 city/30 hwy mpg. With its distinct character the Soul is choice many students will enjoy for several years.

2015 Honda Fit

As the most popular choice for the back to school crowd the Fit offers a very versatile interior for different cargo configurations as well as a ton of sporty fun when driving this awesome subcompact car. The Fit offers a look and feel of an attractive fun-loving personality and is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC engine that can produce 130 horsepower. The fit offers very nice fuel efficiency as well at 33 city/41 hwy mpg for parents and students to take advantage of.

Not only are all the cars on this list great choice for students heading back to school this year, but they are all prices under $20,000 making them a group of very affordable vehicles for parents to buy. The only real decision for any parent/student combination is which one is the right choice causing a need for multiple test drives before buying the right car.